Koptos in the Byzantine Period

Koptos kept its importance in the Byzantine Period. It became a bishopric (Phoibammon, mentioned in the council of Ephesus AD 431 is the first of its bishops known by name). Under Justinian the town was renamed as 'Justinianopolis'. An especially important figure is Pisentius of Koptos (568/69-632), who was bishop of Koptos (from 598), but his residence was not in the city, but in a monastery close to it. He wrote several religious books. Some of his letters dating to the period of the Sassanidian domination of Egypt are preserved. The Coptic church recognised him as a saint, because of his good deeds.

a tombstone	a cross	a church

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